The FEMA Android app is the official emergency preparedness resource provided by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Version: 1.1.0

Size: 633KB (no apps2SD)

Category: Reference

Price: Free

FEMA’s mission is to “support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.” Regardless of where you might be from (U.S. or not), the information included in this app is quite universal.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary App is a comprehensive tool for reference, education, and vocabulary building.

Version: 1.0.4

Size: 19.04MB (apps2SD enabled)

Category: Reference

Price: Free

Like the Dictionary.com Android app that came before it, the Merriam-Webster Android app features an easy way to lookup words on the go. The app’s homescreen displays a large search box and even an option to voice search an unknown word. Depending on the word you’re looking up, the voice search functionality may or may not return exact results (it’s based on Android’s current voice search functionality).

This app is the official Google I/O 2011 conference Android application.

Version: 0.15

Size: 730KB (no apps2SD)

Category: Reference

Price: Free

Note: this Android app is almost solely useful for attendees of the Google I/O conference in San Francisco, May 11-12th.

The first thing you’ll notice about this app is its beautiful user-interface that makes navigation an absolute breeze. The homescreen contains icon links to important details like the event’s schedule, sessions, sandbox, as well as a map to the location (and a 3-level map of the Moscone Center).

Checkout the schedule to find when the keynote presentation, lunch, and developer office hours will take place. With session tracking you can view the schedule of classes, arranged by topics like Android, Chrome, and Google APIs. By selecting a specific class, you can view a summary of its content, who will be speaking, in addition to when and where it will be held. If you want to make sure you don’t forget about anything in all the excitement of the conference, star it for quick access from the app’s homescreen.

Periodic Table by Socratica is an excellent reference and learning tool.

Version: 1.5.0

Size: 1.15MB (apps2SD enabled)

Category: Reference

Price: Free

If you’re currently in a chemistry class, will take one soon, or want to brush up on your “element”al knowledge, this Android app is a must-have. With the “Learn” button, a random element’s details will be displayed including atomic, thermodynamic, material, electromagnetic, reactivity, and nuclear properties. Specifically, you can discover an element’s symbol, atomic number, atomic mass, and even hear its correct pronunciation. The latter definitely comes in handy for elements like Yttrium and Praseodymium!

If you need to quickly reference a specific element, the full periodic table is easy to navigate with pinch-to-zoom enabled. Additionally, all elements are color-coded depending on what group they belong to (e.g. alkali metals, transition metals, or noble gases). When you find the element you are looking for, just click on it to display the complete details/properties page.

Once you think you know it all, test yourself with the “Quiz” button and practice identifying an element’s name, abbreviation, or atomic number.

Pros:

Excellent chemistry reference app and learning tool

30+ facts and properties about each element

Quiz yourself to gauge current knowledge

Areas for improvement:

Quiz question layout requires screen scrolling which slows down and takes away from the functionality (multiple choice format may work better)

Interface in general could use some optimization/polishing

Conclusion: An incredibly useful reference tool for anyone interested in chemistry and/or the elements that make up our world.